BRICS flay West over IMF reform, monetary policy"Leaders of the BRICS group of emerging market nations pressed Western powers to cede more voting rights at the IMF this year and flayed the rich world's reflationary monetary policies for putting global economic stability in jeopardy."

"The move reflects the bad experience that ASEAN countries such as Indonesia had with the IMF during the 1997 Asian financial crisis, when the IMF meted out harsh prescriptions to pluck them from their financial troubles."

GMG suspends flight operations (Bangladesh)"GMG Airlines, the largest private airline of the country, has announced suspension of its flight operations from Mar 30 for what it called 'strategic restructuring against rising fuel price and competitive global market'."

SIA reviews flights to NY and Los Angeles"Three years after a controversial launch, Singapore Airlines is reviewing its options to stem losses on its non-stop, all-business-class flights to New York and Los Angeles."

## Fault lines/flashpoints/powder kegs/military/war drums ##India,China to continue Crude Oil imports from Iran, other BRICS support"MUMBAI (Commodity Online): India and China have flexed their muscles, supporting oil imports from Iran despite US opposition that both countries should reduce importing oil from the Middle East country. India and China are the two biggest oil markets for Iran, accounting for about 45% of Iran's oil exports."

S Korean activists protest against Japan""South Korean activists on Thursday burned pictures of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and scuffled with police in a protest against Tokyo's claims to disputed islands."

Israel braces for Arab protests on Friday"Israeli authorities say thousands of security forces are making final preparations for a series of Arab protests expected Friday in Israel and along its borders with the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Arab countries."

Power shortage causes prolonged brownouts (Philippines)"MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon – The Bukidnon Second Electric Cooperative (Buseco) was forced to implement a two-and-a-half rotational brownouts due to power shortage brought about by increased peak demands of from member-consumers."

"[Refiners] say that gasoline prices, particularly on the East Coast, have been too low for them to operate successfully. Already, two refineries there have shut down completely and a third has gone idle as prices for fuel haven't kept up with the surging cost of the raw material, crude oil."

West wants Saudi Arabia to keep up oil production"Oil consuming nations may seek reassurance from Saudi Arabia that it will not cut oil production and neutralize the impact on oil prices if consumer countries release emergency reserves, diplomats and industry sources said."

Beam me up!Doomsday 2012: Thousands queue for UFO rescue at Pic de Bugarach"Thousands of 'New Agers' are flocking to the village of Bugarach in France to prepare for the end of the world on December 21. The people are expecting that aliens will come to save them from doomsday apocalypse by beaming them aboard their spaceships."